Position indicator



I 1,621,290 March 15, 1927. H. TANNER PQSITION'INDIGATOR 4 Filed March 24'. 1920 .as far as possible both the number used in systems of this character.

Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

may L. TANNER, or BROOKLYN, NEW xonx, essmnon 1'0 THE TANNER ENGI- NEERING company, INCL. I

POSITION INDICATOR.

Application filed March 24, 1920. Serial No. 868,412.

This inventionrelates to electrical position indicators used to signal or transmit from one point to another the posit on of some object such as the rudder of a ship, the level of water in areservoir, the reading of a measuring instrument, or the like.

The purpose of the invention is to reduce of moving partsand the number of transmission wires .in such an instrument. In my prior Patent No. 1,320,807, for indicator, dated November 4, 1919, and in my copending application N 0. 238,747, for telemetric devices, filed June 7, 1918, (now Patent No. 1,350,345, dated August 24, 1920), I disclose a means for securing a plurality of indications with a greatly less number of wires than'had heretofore been By this invention I improve on my previous inventions by eliminating a large number of mov ing parts and using only oneindex or movable indicator. By this improvement it is possible to utilize my invention for indicatmg an almost unlimited number of separate positions or for operating a marker for a recording instrument, or the like, and also for operating the pen of a recording instrument.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings in which what I now consider'the preferred forms of my invention are shown:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of one form of apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a similar diagrammatic view of another form.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view looking in the direction of theaxis 3132 from the left towards the right in Fig. 2 and with the arm 36 uppermost, the bearings and certain other parts being omitted for clarity in illustration.

For the sake of illustration I have chosen an indicator having only four electromagnetic actuating elements, from which it follows that the indicator will have 2 -1 or positions from the principles outlined in my prior patent and patent application' Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity, the showing is diagrammatic. 1 represents an armature pivoted at 2 and normally biased to turn in the direction of the arrow by means of a spring'3. Said armature is preferably provided with a plurality of cores 4 and 5 adapted to cooperate with solenoids 6 and 7. Said armature has four positionsfirst, when neither solenoid is excited as shown in dotted lines); second, when so enoid 6 is excited centralizing core 4 therein; third, when both solenoids 6 and 7 are excited placing the armature in a vertical position; and fourth when excited which centralizes core5 therein. The full line position is the third position.

On the opposite end of armature 1 is a pm 8 extending ,Within a U or V shaped slot 9 in lever 10. Said lever is shown as pivoted at 11 and is normally biased to turn in the direction of the arrow by means of spring 12 thereby holding the lower edge of slot 9 against pin 8. A solenoid 13 when excited tends to draw armature 14 clockwise until the upper edge of said slot strikes pin 8. Obviously said lever will have four positions when so enoid 13 is deenergized, one for each position of lever 1, and four other positions if slot 9 the solenoid is excited.

At another point in said lever, preferably adgacent its opposite end is another U or V shaped slot 15, into which a pin 16 on pointer or other index 17 projects. Said pointer is shown as pivoted at 18 and is normally biased to turn in the direction of the arrow by means of spring 19. A fourth solenoid 20, when excited, will draw armature 21 secured to lever 17 clockwise. It will, therefore, be readily apparent that, with the slot properly designed pointer 17 positions with solenoid unexcited and eight positions with the same excited, or sixteen in all, if none overlap, position of rest or fifteen actual positions. Preferably the wallsof the slots are curved or spiraled so that the graduations on the scale will be of uniform spacing.

and counting the solenoid 7 alone is is correctly designed when will have eight The transmitter for actuating the indicator comprises four contacts of any suitable form and diagrammatically represented in Fig. 1 as spring fingers 22, 23, 24, and 25 opened and closed by means of cams 26 so designed as to close the contacts referably in t-hefollowing sequence: (6), 27), (7, and 13), (6, 7 and 13), (6 and 13)., 13), (13 and 20), (6, 13 and 20), (6, 7, 13 and 20), (7, 13 and 20), (7 and 20), (6, 7 and 20), (6 and 20), (20). derstood that the cams same shaft the sending are mounted on the instrument is rotate so as to be turned together when 6 and 7),

It will be un- In Fig. 2 I have shown several modifications in structure of my invention and also out is:

show how it may be employed as a.recordmg meter.

' According ings 6' and 7 to this modification, the windare mounted side by side and have a common core 25 mounted on a shaft 26 slidably mounted in bearings 27 and 28. Said core is normally pulled to the right by 29 but will move in successive steps s ring to the left by the excitation of windings 6',

6 and 7' (together) and 7' inthe order named. Shaft 26 is provided with a pin 8' workin in a V-sha d slot 9' in a member 30. Sand member is pivoted on pivot pins 31 and 32 and the said member is biased in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3. The core 34 of solenoid 13 is secured to said member 30 by link 35 so that upon excitation of the sole ioid, said member is rotated upwardly, if'pin 8' will permit. As before member 30 is provided with a second V- shaped slot 15', a pin 16' on lever 36 'workmg therein. The fourth solenoid 20' may operate as before to turn lever 36 clockwise against the action of spring 19'. Adjacent its end said lever isshown as provided with a slot 37. A rod 38'slidably mounted as be-' tween rollers 39 and 40 has a pin 41 taking in saidslot so tha a longitudinal movement is imparted to said rod upon turning of the 46 lever. Any suitable tra'clng'means such as record 43 on chart i4 as it .is moved in'the pen 42 is'secured to the rod so as to trace a direction of the arrow by clockwork (not shown).

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I h.- .ve herein described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus, which I new consider to re resent the best embodiment thereof, but desire to have it understood that the a paratus shown is only illustrative and that t e invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to,

use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted without interfering, with "the more general results outlined, andthe. invention extends to such use.

Having described my invention, what I"- claim and desire to secure by LettersPat- 1. In an indicator, a; movable index, means for moving the same inat least two directions, and movable means for arrestin such movement of said index in one of en second movable member members for limiting two directions in a plurality of different positions and for arresting such movement of said index in the, other of said two directions in a Iplurality of difi'erentpositions.

2. u an indicator, a movable index, means for moving the same in a. plurality of directions, a member movable in two directions for arresting such movement, and a third movable member for arresting the movements of the second member in each direction.

3. In an electric indicator, a movable index, a plurality having armatures biased to unattractedposition, means for exciting said devices in a predetermined sequence, and means res onsive to such excitation for moving sai in dex to a number of difierent positions equal to the maximum combinations of the number of said devices, said last' named means including an operative connection between one'of-said devicesand said index, and a movable member also operatively connected to said index and to the other devices for limiting movement of said index by oneof said devices.

4. In an electrical indicator, 9. member normallybiased to move in one direction, electromagnetic means forfcausing movement in a different direction, a second electromagnetic meansv havingv a plurality of limiting the movement ofsaid positions for member in eachdire'ction, an index, electro-e magneticmeans for moving the same in two directions and means interconnecting said index and member whereby said index has a possible number of ositions as great as the ssible number 0% num er of electromagnetm means.

5. In an indicator, a movable index, means.

movement tions comprisinga. pivoted member movable same in a plurality of positions.

6. In an indicator, in combination, a mov-" able member, means for movin saidmember to any one of aplurality 0 positions, a

said second member in either of opp rections, mechanism interconnecting said first and second members for limiting the combinations of the means for movingosite d1'- of electromagnetic devices 7 for moving the same in a plurality of direc tions, and movable means for 'arrestlng suchin a plurality of different posimovement of said second member to substantially double the number of positions of said first member, athird movable member,

means for moving said third member in either of opposite directions, and mechanism interconnecting said second and third the movement of said third member to substantially double the number of positions of said second member 7. A com mation. as set forth in claim in which selective means are provided for a time when .passin from any of said posio individually or jointly controlling the' none to any next ad acent position.

means formo the movable members. 12. In an indicator, a movable index, "8. In anindicator, a movable index, means means for movin the same in at least two for moving the same in a-plurality of direce directions, movab e means for arresting such tions, a'member movable in two directions movement of. said index in one of said two for. arresting such movement, a third. movdirections in a plurality of difl'erent indicatable member for arresting the movements of ing positions and for" arresting such movethe second member in each direction, and ment of said index in the other of said two means for moving each of said members lndidirections in a plurality of difi'erent indicatvidually and in'groups in a predetermined 'ing positions, and electromagnetic means for 0 sequence. controlling'said movable means.

"9. In a position indicatorya step-by-step 13. In 'an indicator, a movable index,

electromagnetic device having an armature means for moving said index in at'least two with a plurahty of posltions, a second elecdirections, a movable device for arresting tromagnetic device having an armature with such" movementof said index in one of saidtwo directions of movement, means connecttwo direct-ions in a plurality of. difi'erent poing said devices so that said second device' sitions and for arresting such movement of may be caused to assume double the positions said index in the other of said two directions of said first device according to whether one in a plurality of 'dilferent positions and or another or a combinationof said electromeans for controlling the position of said magnetic device is energized, and means movable device,

for energizing said electromagnetic devices 14. In combination, a movable index,

singly and jointly. means comprising an electromagnet'for mov- 10. In combination, a movable index,\ing said index in opposite directions, mov-.

means comprisingan electromagnet for movable means for arresting such movement of ing said index in opposite directions, movsaid index in either direction in a plurality ab e means for arresting such movementof of different positions, a plurality of electrosaid index in either direction in a plurality magnets for controlling said movable means,

of dififerent-positions, a'plurality of electroand means for energizing said electromagmagnets for controlling said movable means, nets one, two, and three at a time in a 'predel and selective means for energizing one or antermined sequence. other or grou s ofsaidelectromagnetsin a 15. In an indicator, a movable index, predetermm I uence. means'for moving said-index in at least two 11.' In aposltlon' indicator, a movable directions, movable means for arrestin such member, a movable indication-producing demovement of said index in one of-said two v1ce controlled by said member, means comdirections in a plurality of different indicatpllslng at least-three electromagnets and oping positions and for arresting such moveeratlve connections between the same and .ment of said index in the other of said two sald member for causing said member to asdirections in a plurality of different indicatsume various positions of a number of difmg-positions, and means including electrof ferent positions equal to the maximum nummagnets controlling said. first and second ber of combinations of the total number of mentioned means for causing said indicator electromagnets when the latter are energized to assume a number of operated positions in 1n various ,combmatlons, and means includexcess of the number of electromagnets.

' ing contacts and connections controlling said ,In testimony whereof I have aflixed :my a

electroinagnets for causing said member to signature. 1' assume'its various positions by changing the a l clrcuitof not more than one electromagnet at L. TANNER. 

